As citizens in a democracy we all have a duty. That duty is to inform ourselves of the issues at hand so that we can make enlightened decisions when we go to the polls. Over this last month I’ve worked on informing people about the coming school board operating levy referendum. I’ve heard many thoughtful and considered viewpoints on this topic, both for and against. No one likes to raise their own taxes. And no one thinks the school funding system in Minnesota works well. No one I’ve talked to has told me this is a Republican or Democratic Party issue – it’s an issue that transcends party affiliation. Even Tim Pawlenty says school funding in Minnesota is not based on what it costs to educate a child. Please consider these facts when deciding how to cast your vote on this important issue. Our school board unanimously voted for the levy. Many of them work hard to keep a close eye on spending, but even the “budget hawks” of the board know it’s time to have a levy. Education is not like it was 30 or 40 years ago. Once upon a time, we didn’t have indoor plumbing, but few of us now think an outhouse is an acceptable alternative, especially in January. Our students need tools to compete in a global marketplace. Ever wonder why there are any jobs left in America when you can pay overseas workers a small fraction of what an American worker costs? It’s because we have good ideas. Our schools train our kids to think for themselves. This creativity means that we figure out how to do things better. This is not bred into us, it is learned. They used to call this “American ingenuity” but you can think of it as “Education.” Everyone has a “beef.” You may dislike this one person who works for the schools. Or maybe you think they should do it your way. Maybe you would rather they didn’t spend money on this one thing. Fine. You are entitled to your opinion, and you can and should voice it to your school board. You can even get involved and run for the school board yourself. But here’s the catch. Even if you do cut that person or this program, the budget deficit will not go away. Nothing I’ve heard from people collectively even comes close to the $800,000 budget shortfall over the next two years. We have a duty to educate the next generation. Someone paid for me and you to go to school, and they did it with taxes. Out of 343 districts in Minnesota 301 have operating levies; only 42 districts in the state do not and Kimball is one of them. That fact places us in the bottom 13 percent of districts. In fact, we spend $900 less per student than the state average. You read that right, not less than the highest funded district, less than AVERAGE. Surrounding districts including ROCORI, Eden Valley-Watkins, Litchfield, Dassel-Cokato, Annandale and St. Cloud have operating levies. If we make cuts in popular programs like sports or FFA, or increase class sizes, some parents will decide to send their kids elsewhere. In Minnesota that means they take their funding to that new district. In 2001 more than half of the districts in Minnesota asked voters for an operating levy, but Kimball did not. The school board waited until this levy was absolutely necessary and made $600,000 in cuts over the last two years. The levy is necessary now to avoid draconian cuts. The question on the ballot specifies $450 per pupil. This is not what your increase will be. Your increase will be less than one percent of your tax statement market value. Property zoned as cabins are excluded. Property zoned agricultural is excluded except for the house, garage and one acre. And, the state pays almost 60 percent of the cost of the levy. Creig Andreasen, Watkins
